Truths That Transform presented by Coral Ridge Ministries featuring Dr. Robert J. Pacienza, with sermon commentary from Dr. D. James Kennedy and Dr. Pacienza. Each program provides a compelling analysis of current moral and cultural controversies all from a biblical perspective.
#Salvation
#Testimony
#Faith
#ChildofGod
#LoveofGod
#Bible
#Religion
#Christmas
#Overcoming
#Truth
#WordofGod
#inActive
#D.JamesKennedy
#Depression
#RobPacienza
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Truths That Transform | D. James Kennedy;Rob Pacienza - The Greatest Christmas Of All | December 30, 2024
- Hi, i'm pastor rob pacienza.
- 00:01:00.827 --> 00:00:01.538
- This is our final program of 2024,
- 00:00:01.538 --> 00:00:04.207
- And as we wrap up christmas
- 00:00:04.207 --> 00:00:06.242
- And get ready to usher in a new year,
- 00:00:06.242 --> 00:00:07.944
- I wanted to take one more moment to speak
- 00:00:07.944 --> 00:00:10.280
- With you personally about the future.
- 00:00:10.280 --> 00:00:12.615
- There is a lot to be excited about in 2025
- 00:00:12.615 --> 00:00:15.418
- With a new presidential administration taking office
- 00:00:15.418 --> 00:00:18.321
- And a new congress being sworn in.
- 00:00:18.321 --> 00:00:20.490
- The immediate future looks promising for religious liberty,
- 00:00:20.490 --> 00:00:24.227
- National security, and the protection of the family,
- 00:00:24.227 --> 00:00:27.597
- And so many other issues we care about.
- 00:00:27.597 --> 00:00:29.866
- And there's also a lot of work to be done.
- 00:00:29.866 --> 00:00:31.701
- We need a biblical, christian voice now more than ever
- 00:00:31.701 --> 00:00:35.138
- To proclaim the full counsel of god's word on issues like
- 00:00:35.138 --> 00:00:38.675
- The sanctity of human life, god's design for sex and gender,
- 00:00:38.675 --> 00:00:42.312
- Upholding the constitution and so much more.
- 00:00:42.312 --> 00:00:49.052
- And i want to ask you to join us in that effort today.
- 00:00:50.220 --> 00:00:54.390
- Some of you have donated in the past, but it's been awhile.
- 00:00:54.390 --> 00:00:58.027
- Others of you enjoy our programs,
- 00:00:58.027 --> 00:01:00.230
- But haven't yet donated.
- 00:01:00.230 --> 00:01:01.598
- So can i ask you to please help us today?
- 00:01:01.598 --> 00:01:20.884
- Your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar,
- 00:01:21.985 --> 00:01:24.721
- Up to $250,000.
- 00:01:24.721 --> 00:01:27.323
- So please, help us begin 2025 on firm footing,
- 00:01:27.323 --> 00:01:31.427
- Ready to address the key issues that we will be facing.
- 00:01:31.427 --> 00:01:35.031
- Thank you for your partnership,
- 00:01:35.031 --> 00:01:36.633
- And happy new year to you and yours!
- 00:01:36.633 --> 00:02:02.559
- Welcome to truths that transform,
- 00:02:03.393 --> 00:02:05.028
- A production of coral ridge ministries.
- 00:02:05.028 --> 00:02:07.397
- Another christmas has passed,
- 00:02:07.397 --> 00:02:09.566
- And we are on the brink of a new year.
- 00:02:09.566 --> 00:02:12.235
- Christmas is about the arrival of jesus christ into our world,
- 00:02:12.235 --> 00:02:15.838
- And new years are about new beginnings.
- 00:02:15.838 --> 00:02:18.308
- On today's program, you'll discover
- 00:02:18.308 --> 00:02:20.276
- How christmas can still transform your life.
- 00:02:20.276 --> 00:02:23.213
- And we'll share some ideas for new years resolutions
- 00:02:23.213 --> 00:02:25.982
- For you to consider.
- 00:02:25.982 --> 00:02:27.617
- And, as we begin,
- 00:02:27.617 --> 00:02:29.018
- Jesus' arrival into our world was transformative.
- 00:02:29.018 --> 00:02:32.555
- He profoundly changed our culture and he also radically
- 00:02:32.555 --> 00:02:36.192
- Transforms individuals each and every day.
- 00:02:36.192 --> 00:02:39.128
- We begin today's program by introducing you to an unlikely
- 00:02:39.128 --> 00:02:42.498
- Woman who met jesus in the midst of disaster in her own life.
- 00:02:42.498 --> 00:02:50.506
- Musicians, dave and goldie winn,
- 00:02:51.241 --> 00:02:53.243
- With their fellow band member rick,
- 00:02:53.243 --> 00:02:55.878
- Practice worship songs for their messianic congregation
- 00:02:55.878 --> 00:03:00.183
- If i didn't have the lord, i think i would be more fearful.
- 00:03:00.183 --> 00:03:05.021
- You know the lord has given me the gift of joy
- 00:03:06.055 --> 00:03:08.391
- And i just really want to impart
- 00:03:08.391 --> 00:03:09.726
- The joy of my salvation to everyone i come in contact with.
- 00:03:09.726 --> 00:03:13.463
- So it's all about hope and encouragement.
- 00:03:13.463 --> 00:03:16.866
- That joy and faith in jesus christ
- 00:03:16.866 --> 00:03:19.502
- Is not how goldie started out in life.
- 00:03:19.502 --> 00:03:22.338
- I grew up in a conservative jewish home.
- 00:03:22.338 --> 00:03:24.173
- We lived in a very small town in iowa and my father was
- 00:03:24.173 --> 00:03:27.543
- A psychiatrist at a very large state hospital in the 1950's.
- 00:03:27.543 --> 00:03:31.547
- And i remember growing up, i was jealous of the,
- 00:03:31.547 --> 00:03:35.118
- What i thought were non-jewish or christian people
- 00:03:35.118 --> 00:03:37.820
- Who got to celebrate christmas.
- 00:03:37.820 --> 00:03:39.789
- For hanukkah, we'd get presents for 8 nights,
- 00:03:39.789 --> 00:03:42.759
- But they would get all kinds of presents
- 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:44.360
- Underneath the tree and santa claus would come,
- 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:47.163
- At least that's how i saw it through my childhood eyes
- 00:03:47.163 --> 00:03:51.334
- But i used to just kind of yearn for christmas
- 00:03:51.334 --> 00:03:54.103
- But i was always told that you know jesus wasn't for us
- 00:03:54.103 --> 00:03:57.840
- As a child i was always depressed and
- 00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:00.109
- My mother said i would always carry around
- 00:04:00.109 --> 00:04:01.878
- A pocket full of tears wherever she goes,
- 00:04:01.878 --> 00:04:04.047
- So i was kind of a sad little girl
- 00:04:04.047 --> 00:04:05.715
- And i used to escape in books,
- 00:04:05.715 --> 00:04:07.216
- And my father would often come in unannounced and
- 00:04:07.216 --> 00:04:10.753
- He saw me with this little bible and
- 00:04:10.753 --> 00:04:13.389
- He assumed it was the new testament and
- 00:04:13.389 --> 00:04:15.625
- He just grabbed it from me
- 00:04:15.625 --> 00:04:17.393
- And he just started beating me
- 00:04:17.393 --> 00:04:19.062
- And he said if i ever see you with this again,
- 00:04:19.062 --> 00:04:21.631
- This new testament again, i'll break every bone in your body
- 00:04:21.631 --> 00:04:24.367
- So that put a lot of fear in my life.
- 00:04:24.367 --> 00:04:27.036
- And fast forward several years later,
- 00:04:27.036 --> 00:04:30.440
- Into the late 60's when i graduated from high school
- 00:04:30.440 --> 00:04:34.477
- And i ended up on campus when the hippie movement started
- 00:04:34.477 --> 00:04:37.580
- Which of course you know sad to say, sex,drugs and rock & roll
- 00:04:37.580 --> 00:04:44.587
- And i eventually found myself pregnant
- 00:04:44.587 --> 00:04:47.824
- And i had an abortion way back in 1970,
- 00:04:47.824 --> 00:04:50.460
- Sadly, it was before roe vs. wade
- 00:04:50.460 --> 00:04:53.329
- And that's something i've had to live with for many years
- 00:04:53.329 --> 00:04:55.965
- Because the abortion wound goes very very deep.
- 00:04:55.965 --> 00:04:58.167
- I was further along than i would've liked to be,
- 00:04:58.167 --> 00:05:02.805
- So that meant that i actually had to go into a hospital
- 00:05:02.805 --> 00:05:05.708
- And deliver the baby,
- 00:05:05.708 --> 00:05:07.510
- So that was very traumatic, very traumatic and
- 00:05:07.510 --> 00:05:11.547
- The nurse said to me, you would've had a perfect baby boy.
- 00:05:11.547 --> 00:05:15.118
- The years of pain and sorrow from that
- 00:05:16.018 --> 00:05:18.488
- Late term saline abortion
- 00:05:18.488 --> 00:05:20.456
- Are part of goldie's journey of redemption that
- 00:05:20.456 --> 00:05:23.526
- She recounts in her book called, rainbows in the night.
- 00:05:23.526 --> 00:05:26.929
- And i thought of myself as a rainbow in the night because
- 00:05:28.164 --> 00:05:31.601
- There were colors in my life that were hidden
- 00:05:31.601 --> 00:05:34.237
- For many many years and was only until i got
- 00:05:34.237 --> 00:05:37.507
- To the place where i experienced the freedom
- 00:05:37.507 --> 00:05:39.809
- And the healing from the lord that
- 00:05:39.809 --> 00:05:41.811
- Those colors began to emerge in a much brighter way.
- 00:05:41.811 --> 00:05:45.815
- When dave and goldie first met, they both had suffered childhood
- 00:05:47.150 --> 00:05:50.787
- Abuse and were caught in a destructive lifestyle.
- 00:05:50.787 --> 00:05:54.157
- When i met her she was very depressed,
- 00:05:54.157 --> 00:05:57.126
- Didn't say too much
- 00:05:57.126 --> 00:06:01.431
- But i guess you know within my heart,
- 00:06:01.431 --> 00:06:03.666
- There was always a god hole
- 00:06:03.666 --> 00:06:05.501
- I did a lot of drugs and i drank a lot before
- 00:06:05.501 --> 00:06:09.238
- I met the lord because i was trying to fill that void.
- 00:06:09.238 --> 00:06:13.709
- And i just found myself falling face down on the ground and
- 00:06:13.709 --> 00:06:16.612
- I cried out to the god of abraham, isaac and jacob
- 00:06:16.612 --> 00:06:20.016
- And i said “god if you're real, please reveal yourself to me,
- 00:06:20.016 --> 00:06:23.453
- Otherwise i want to die.
- 00:06:23.453 --> 00:06:25.354
- Later, a work friend shared her faith
- 00:06:26.222 --> 00:06:28.357
- In jesus christ with goldie.
- 00:06:28.357 --> 00:06:30.159
- I remember saying to her, but i'm jewish,
- 00:06:30.159 --> 00:06:33.796
- There's no way i can accept jesus, he's not our god
- 00:06:33.796 --> 00:06:37.433
- And the scripture that she led her to was isaiah 53
- 00:06:37.433 --> 00:06:42.104
- By his stripes we are healed and on and on it goes
- 00:06:42.205 --> 00:06:45.174
- And i harkened back to the synagogue growing up
- 00:06:45.174 --> 00:06:47.276
- And i remembered that our rabbi
- 00:06:47.276 --> 00:06:49.612
- In the torah readings always skipped isaiah 53
- 00:06:49.612 --> 00:06:53.015
- It's so clear that it's about jesus,
- 00:06:53.015 --> 00:06:55.117
- But until the blinders are lifted, you know we don't see
- 00:06:55.117 --> 00:06:59.188
- Goldie and dave began visiting her co-worker's church.
- 00:06:59.188 --> 00:07:03.793
- And i remember looking at dave,
- 00:07:03.793 --> 00:07:05.428
- Saying maybe that's what we need,
- 00:07:05.428 --> 00:07:07.964
- Maybe we need god, maybe we need jesus, i mean,
- 00:07:07.964 --> 00:07:10.366
- I'm jewish, but maybe that's what we need
- 00:07:10.366 --> 00:07:13.569
- Change was very gradual with me.
- 00:07:14.303 --> 00:07:16.772
- It wasn't like “oh!”
- 00:07:16.772 --> 00:07:18.641
- But i did feel like something happened
- 00:07:18.641 --> 00:07:23.513
- August 4th 1974, i'll never forget it as long as i live
- 00:07:23.513 --> 00:07:27.083
- And dave and i together held hands and
- 00:07:27.083 --> 00:07:29.552
- We prayed the prayer of salvation together
- 00:07:29.552 --> 00:07:31.954
- And we're very different in personalities,
- 00:07:31.954 --> 00:07:34.624
- So for me everything's like whoa,
- 00:07:34.624 --> 00:07:36.459
- For dave, it's much more quieter,
- 00:07:36.459 --> 00:07:38.394
- She became joyful and that was something that really said
- 00:07:38.394 --> 00:07:45.868
- Wow something is happening here and really impressed me
- 00:07:45.868 --> 00:07:50.239
- That she went from this person who hardly said a word
- 00:07:50.239 --> 00:07:54.110
- To this joyful person.
- 00:07:54.110 --> 00:07:56.779
- And for me, it was an instantaneous transformation,
- 00:07:56.779 --> 00:07:59.882
- 2 corinthians 5:17, therefore if any man be in christ, behold,
- 00:07:59.882 --> 00:08:05.521
- Old things have passes away, all things have become new
- 00:08:05.521 --> 00:08:08.558
- And that's exactly what it was for me.
- 00:08:08.558 --> 00:08:10.359
- It says in scripture that barely a person will lay down his life
- 00:08:10.359 --> 00:08:16.332
- For a friend but jesus laid down his life for the whole world.
- 00:08:16.332 --> 00:08:21.704
- Mind blowing to me
- 00:08:21.704 --> 00:08:24.040
- It's been so wonderful for dave and me because the lord is truly
- 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:27.677
- In the center of our marriage,
- 00:08:27.677 --> 00:08:29.245
- That threefold cord which is not easily broken
- 00:08:29.245 --> 00:08:32.148
- And whenever we would run across hard times,
- 00:08:32.148 --> 00:08:34.951
- We could just stop and pray and
- 00:08:34.951 --> 00:08:37.587
- We would experience the lord's presence and he would help us
- 00:08:37.587 --> 00:08:40.389
- Through any conflict that we ever experienced.
- 00:08:40.389 --> 00:08:43.292
- Recently, goldie winn retired after working for years
- 00:08:44.493 --> 00:08:47.663
- As a counselor at a pregnancy resource center
- 00:08:47.663 --> 00:08:50.666
- In south florida.
- 00:08:50.666 --> 00:08:52.435
- I had an abortion in 1970
- 00:08:52.435 --> 00:08:55.237
- And maybe out of the pain of my abortion,
- 00:08:55.237 --> 00:08:57.707
- I can help other people heal and i can talk to women about
- 00:08:57.707 --> 00:09:02.311
- The importance of having their babies and
- 00:09:02.311 --> 00:09:04.547
- Really considering their decisions very carefully
- 00:09:04.547 --> 00:09:07.516
- Before making that tragic decision.
- 00:09:07.516 --> 00:09:09.752
- But i really think like anything else
- 00:09:09.752 --> 00:09:11.654
- Before i came to know the lord,
- 00:09:11.654 --> 00:09:13.623
- There were blinders on my eyes
- 00:09:13.623 --> 00:09:15.224
- And i feel as though there's blinders on the eyes
- 00:09:15.224 --> 00:09:18.127
- Of many people in our country and
- 00:09:18.127 --> 00:09:20.296
- Until the lord lifts that and shows them the truth,
- 00:09:20.296 --> 00:09:23.099
- That's the only way they're going to see the truth,
- 00:09:23.099 --> 00:09:25.201
- Because it's a fight between good and evil
- 00:09:25.201 --> 00:09:28.004
- And i think that's what we're really dealing with,
- 00:09:28.004 --> 00:09:30.640
- It's a spiritual battle and we just need to pray
- 00:09:30.640 --> 00:09:33.476
- That their eyes are open to the truth.
- 00:09:33.476 --> 00:09:38.648
- Goldie winn had once believed the false ideas of the world,
- 00:09:39.949 --> 00:09:43.285
- And it led her to ruin.
- 00:09:43.285 --> 00:09:45.054
- But jesus christ met her at her lowest point and saved her.
- 00:09:45.054 --> 00:09:49.025
- Goldie discovered what all too many people
- 00:09:49.025 --> 00:09:51.394
- Tragically miss the true meaning of christmas.
- 00:09:51.394 --> 00:09:54.597
- Do not be one of these people.
- 00:09:54.597 --> 00:09:56.966
- Christmas just passed but the reality
- 00:09:56.966 --> 00:09:59.368
- Of what it means for you remains.
- 00:09:59.368 --> 00:10:01.937
- Pay careful attention as my pastor and mentor,
- 00:10:01.937 --> 00:10:04.640
- Dr. d. james kennedy, shares with us,
- 00:10:04.640 --> 00:10:07.276
- “the greatest christmas gift of all.”
- 00:10:07.276 --> 00:10:11.347
- They had read virtually everything
- 00:10:12.214 --> 00:10:14.183
- Written on the subject.
- 00:10:14.183 --> 00:10:16.185
- They had studied.
- 00:10:16.185 --> 00:10:17.820
- They had planned.
- 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:19.355
- They had tinkered.
- 00:10:19.355 --> 00:10:20.523
- They had built.
- 00:10:20.523 --> 00:10:21.857
- They had tried and they had failed
- 00:10:21.857 --> 00:10:23.893
- And they had tried and tried again...
- 00:10:23.893 --> 00:10:27.096
- Until one bright december morning,
- 00:10:27.096 --> 00:10:33.369
- Somewhat perhaps like this, at last, at length,
- 00:10:33.369 --> 00:10:39.875
- The dream of mankind came to pass
- 00:10:39.875 --> 00:10:44.613
- And the shackles of this earth were broken and
- 00:10:44.613 --> 00:10:50.686
- Man took off to join the birds in flight.
- 00:10:50.686 --> 00:10:56.192
- At kitty hawk man was free from this earth at last
- 00:10:56.192 --> 00:11:03.466
- Now orville and wilbur were thrilled beyond measure.
- 00:11:03.466 --> 00:11:08.370
- And the first thing they did was to send a telegram to
- 00:11:08.370 --> 00:11:12.241
- Their very enthusiastic booster, their sister, katherine.
- 00:11:12.241 --> 00:11:16.846
- And when she got the telegram,
- 00:11:16.846 --> 00:11:19.248
- She was so excited that she ran
- 00:11:19.248 --> 00:11:22.284
- Right down to the newspaper office
- 00:11:22.284 --> 00:11:24.754
- And showed it to the editor.
- 00:11:24.754 --> 00:11:27.690
- It said, “we have actually flown 120 feet.
- 00:11:27.690 --> 00:11:34.764
- Will be home for christmas”.
- 00:11:34.764 --> 00:11:37.733
- And there sat the editor
- 00:11:37.733 --> 00:11:40.536
- With the scoop of the year in his hands.
- 00:11:40.536 --> 00:11:45.875
- Not just the scoop of the year, but of the decade,
- 00:11:45.875 --> 00:11:49.378
- The news of the century right in his own hands.
- 00:11:49.378 --> 00:11:54.617
- Imagine!
- 00:11:54.617 --> 00:11:55.885
- Man has flown.
- 00:11:55.885 --> 00:11:59.054
- And in embryonic form there was in his hands
- 00:11:59.054 --> 00:12:05.628
- The “spirit of st. louis”,
- 00:12:05.628 --> 00:12:08.130
- The b1, the x1, the 747, the concorde, the space shuttle,
- 00:12:08.130 --> 00:12:14.870
- Flights to venus and mars and beyond
- 00:12:14.870 --> 00:12:18.974
- A giant leap for mankind.
- 00:12:18.974 --> 00:12:23.412
- And he said, “well, well,
- 00:12:23.412 --> 00:12:29.485
- The boys are coming home for christmas.
- 00:12:29.485 --> 00:12:34.190
- Isn't that nice?”
- 00:12:34.190 --> 00:12:38.994
- He blew it.
- 00:12:38.994 --> 00:12:44.667
- He missed it.
- 00:12:44.667 --> 00:12:47.169
- A story that was going to be in every last newspaper in the
- 00:12:47.169 --> 00:12:51.473
- World within a week, and he had the scoop, and he missed it.
- 00:12:51.473 --> 00:12:59.515
- You are thinking, “how could any editor have been such an idiot,
- 00:12:59.515 --> 00:13:05.020
- So obtuse as to do such a thing as that?”
- 00:13:05.020 --> 00:13:10.726
- Well, dear friends, before we condemn him utterly
- 00:13:10.726 --> 00:13:17.967
- For his lack of insight,
- 00:13:17.967 --> 00:13:22.838
- May i point out to you that there are tens of millions
- 00:13:22.838 --> 00:13:28.477
- Of people in this country who have missed
- 00:13:28.477 --> 00:13:33.449
- A far greater message than that,
- 00:13:33.449 --> 00:13:38.554
- Delivered not by a western union boy
- 00:13:38.554 --> 00:13:41.457
- But by the angel of god
- 00:13:41.457 --> 00:13:44.360
- A message coming not from kitty hawk,
- 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:47.196
- But a message from paradise itself.
- 00:13:47.196 --> 00:13:50.566
- A message not from the wright brothers as noble as they were
- 00:13:50.566 --> 00:13:55.204
- But a message from the triune god himself,
- 00:13:55.204 --> 00:13:59.408
- A message that said that the son of god had flown,
- 00:13:59.408 --> 00:14:05.547
- Not a 120 feet or a 120 miles or millions of miles,
- 00:14:05.547 --> 00:14:11.854
- But an infinite distance all the way through
- 00:14:11.854 --> 00:14:15.124
- The galaxies down into our atmosphere
- 00:14:15.124 --> 00:14:18.727
- To be born in a stable in bethlehem.
- 00:14:18.727 --> 00:14:24.199
- And more than that,
- 00:14:24.199 --> 00:14:25.401
- That he had promised that he was going to take
- 00:14:25.401 --> 00:14:28.203
- Every one of us who trusted in him up,
- 00:14:28.203 --> 00:14:31.640
- Up and away - all the way to heaven.
- 00:14:31.640 --> 00:14:36.612
- What an incredible message, and millions blow it
- 00:14:36.612 --> 00:14:43.218
- Every single year,
- 00:14:43.218 --> 00:14:46.722
- And they say, “well, well,
- 00:14:46.722 --> 00:14:51.727
- Jesus was born at bethlehem.
- 00:14:51.727 --> 00:14:56.598
- Isn't that nice. isn't that sweet”
- 00:14:56.598 --> 00:15:03.672
- And they miss it altogether.
- 00:15:03.672 --> 00:15:09.445
- They might even say,
- 00:15:09.445 --> 00:15:12.548
- “well, christmas is here again. santa claus' birthday”.
- 00:15:12.548 --> 00:15:16.585
- They are on the wrong planet.
- 00:15:16.585 --> 00:15:18.454
- They are not even vaguely close.
- 00:15:18.454 --> 00:15:22.858
- And how about you, dear friend.
- 00:15:22.858 --> 00:15:26.729
- Have you blown it?
- 00:15:26.729 --> 00:15:30.299
- Have you missed the message
- 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:32.735
- The message about a savior that was to be born
- 00:15:32.735 --> 00:15:37.906
- Not a teacher, a preacher, and “example”,
- 00:15:37.906 --> 00:15:41.410
- But a savior!
- 00:15:41.410 --> 00:15:45.114
- Well paul describes the meaning of it so well
- 00:15:46.181 --> 00:15:51.120
- In that fantastic, brilliantly lucid text
- 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:56.158
- That explains the whole meaning of christmas,
- 00:15:56.158 --> 00:15:59.161
- And for that matter, the whole meaning of the bible.
- 00:15:59.161 --> 00:16:03.832
- In romans 6:23, he states it very, very clearly:
- 00:16:03.832 --> 00:16:08.971
- “for the wages of sin is death;
- 00:16:08.971 --> 00:16:12.508
- But the gift of god is eternal life”.
- 00:16:12.508 --> 00:16:17.713
- How wondrous that is.
- 00:16:17.713 --> 00:16:21.517
- This is no garden variety human conception of quid pro quo,
- 00:16:21.517 --> 00:16:28.724
- Tit for tat, this for that.
- 00:16:28.724 --> 00:16:30.993
- No, this is glorious!
- 00:16:30.993 --> 00:16:32.694
- This is the manifestation of the wondrous grace of god
- 00:16:32.694 --> 00:16:39.101
- A god of grace and mercy,
- 00:16:39.735 --> 00:16:43.972
- Who in that infinite love and grace
- 00:16:43.972 --> 00:16:47.242
- Offers eternal life unto all of those that will believe.
- 00:16:47.242 --> 00:16:54.016
- “the gift of god is eternal life”.
- 00:16:54.016 --> 00:16:58.087
- It is free also because it has already been paid for by christ.
- 00:16:58.087 --> 00:17:07.229
- There is nothing you can add or i can add.
- 00:17:07.229 --> 00:17:10.966
- It is done.
- 00:17:10.966 --> 00:17:12.768
- The last thing christ said upon the cross before commending
- 00:17:12.768 --> 00:17:15.804
- His soul to the father was, “tetelestai”.
- 00:17:15.804 --> 00:17:19.308
- “it is finished.
- 00:17:19.308 --> 00:17:21.043
- It is paid.
- 00:17:21.043 --> 00:17:22.111
- It is done.
- 00:17:22.111 --> 00:17:24.546
- If we, said charles spurgeon, had to put one stitch
- 00:17:24.646 --> 00:17:30.819
- In the garment of our salvation,
- 00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:35.190
- We would ruin the whole thing.
- 00:17:35.190 --> 00:17:38.827
- Jesus paid it all.
- 00:17:38.827 --> 00:17:41.263
- All to him i owe.
- 00:17:41.263 --> 00:17:44.333
- The gift of god is eternal life through jesus christ our lord,
- 00:17:44.333 --> 00:17:52.641
- Paid for by him and offered by him freely
- 00:17:52.641 --> 00:17:57.412
- To all who will receive him by faith and repentance.
- 00:17:57.412 --> 00:18:02.284
- Ah, dear one, have you received that gift
- 00:18:02.284 --> 00:18:05.854
- That priceless, perfect, paid for gift
- 00:18:05.854 --> 00:18:10.325
- That christ came into the world into
- 00:18:10.325 --> 00:18:13.762
- The blackness of the sin of this world to pay for you.
- 00:18:13.762 --> 00:18:17.699
- Do you know in your heart that you have eternal life?
- 00:18:17.699 --> 00:18:20.903
- Do you know that when you die and the wages will be paid,
- 00:18:20.903 --> 00:18:26.008
- That you will go from here to paradise?
- 00:18:26.942 --> 00:18:29.478
- Do you know that beyond any peradventure of a doubt?
- 00:18:29.478 --> 00:18:33.549
- If not, ah, dear one, you have blown it.
- 00:18:33.549 --> 00:18:38.420
- You have missed it.
- 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:41.456
- Infinitely more tragic than our editor at that paper.
- 00:18:41.456 --> 00:18:48.597
- You have missed the greatest good news
- 00:18:48.597 --> 00:18:51.800
- That this cursed world has ever, ever heard.
- 00:18:51.800 --> 00:18:56.805
- The gift of god is eternal life through jesus christ,
- 00:18:56.805 --> 00:19:06.181
- Paid for by jesus christ,
- 00:19:06.181 --> 00:19:09.451
- Compliments of jesus christ, our lord.
- 00:19:09.451 --> 00:19:15.490
- Dear one, if you have missed it thus far, miss it no more.
- 00:19:15.490 --> 00:19:25.801
- Come to him and say to him,
- 00:19:25.801 --> 00:19:31.540
- “lord jesus, i am the one for whom you came.
- 00:19:31.540 --> 00:19:37.913
- There is room in my heart for thee.
- 00:19:37.913 --> 00:19:44.853
- Hi, i'm jennifer kennedy cassidy.
- 00:19:45.621 --> 00:19:48.156
- The good news of the gospel of jesus christ
- 00:19:48.156 --> 00:19:50.759
- That you just heard from my dad is what changes hearts and lives
- 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:54.930
- And ultimately cultures and nations.
- 00:19:54.930 --> 00:19:57.633
- 50 years after my dad founded us,
- 00:19:57.633 --> 00:20:00.335
- Coral ridge ministries is still
- 00:20:00.335 --> 00:20:04.139
- And doing so through means my father never even dreamed of.
- 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:09.578
- Thanks to good friends like you,
- 00:20:09.578 --> 00:20:11.446
- We're sharing the word of god by television, radio, print,
- 00:20:11.446 --> 00:20:15.183
- Digital, podcasts, social media, and so much more.
- 00:20:15.183 --> 00:20:19.721
- Because of you, we're sharing it
- 00:20:19.721 --> 00:20:21.757
- In the corridors of power on capitol hill, where
- 00:20:21.757 --> 00:20:24.593
- The d. james kennedy center for christian statesmanship
- 00:20:24.593 --> 00:20:27.262
- Is discipling members of congress and their staffs.
- 00:20:27.262 --> 00:20:30.299
- That's how you change a nation
- 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:32.467
- And we're doing it, with your help.
- 00:20:32.467 --> 00:20:34.903
- But we need you to stand with us
- 00:20:34.903 --> 00:20:36.838
- As we prepare to advance in 2025.
- 00:20:36.838 --> 00:20:39.574
- With a new president and a new congress, our
- 00:20:39.574 --> 00:20:42.411
- Influence on religious freedom, the sanctity of human life,
- 00:20:42.411 --> 00:20:45.681
- And protection for american families
- 00:20:45.681 --> 00:20:47.749
- Will be more important and effective than ever.
- 00:20:47.749 --> 00:20:50.786
- The year is about to end,
- 00:20:50.786 --> 00:20:52.521
- And we need to finish the year in the black
- 00:20:52.521 --> 00:20:54.923
- So that we can launch out of the starting gate in the new year.
- 00:20:54.923 --> 00:20:58.226
- So please, contact us now to give your generous gift.
- 00:20:58.226 --> 00:21:01.797
- Some ministry friends have established
- 00:21:01.797 --> 00:21:12.274
- But only if you give before midnight on december 31st.
- 00:21:13.475 --> 00:21:16.712
- So don't wait- this is the most strategic time
- 00:21:16.712 --> 00:21:19.781
- To give a gift to support the work we do.
- 00:21:19.781 --> 00:21:22.384
- As thanks for your generous donation,
- 00:21:22.384 --> 00:21:24.653
- We'll send you dr. rob pacienza's brand-new book,
- 00:21:24.653 --> 00:21:28.290
- True, good, & beautiful: god's design for a flourishing world.
- 00:21:28.290 --> 00:21:32.260
- Our culture is turned upside down
- 00:21:32.260 --> 00:21:34.763
- Because millions have believed the lies of secularism and
- 00:21:34.763 --> 00:21:38.500
- Rejected god's design in their lives and in our world.
- 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:41.903
- In this book, dr. pacienza shows you
- 00:21:41.903 --> 00:21:44.806
- The biblical foundations of god's design
- 00:21:44.806 --> 00:21:47.442
- For creation, marriage, families,
- 00:21:47.442 --> 00:21:50.045
- Gender, work, government, and more.
- 00:21:50.045 --> 00:21:53.615
- And if you're able to give a generous gift of $100 or more,
- 00:21:53.615 --> 00:21:56.952
- We'll send you the book
- 00:21:56.952 --> 00:21:58.253
- Plus a study pack that goes along with it,
- 00:21:58.253 --> 00:22:00.722
- Perfect for small group or individual study.
- 00:22:00.722 --> 00:22:03.959
- It includes eight full-length messages
- 00:22:03.959 --> 00:22:06.595
- From pastor rob pacienza on god's design,
- 00:22:06.595 --> 00:22:09.498
- Plus a compelling study guide,
- 00:22:09.498 --> 00:22:11.466
- And additional video content for each lesson.
- 00:22:11.466 --> 00:22:14.436
- Give yourself, your children, and your small group or
- 00:22:14.436 --> 00:22:17.205
- Sunday school the best grounding possible
- 00:22:17.205 --> 00:22:19.608
- In god's true design for your life and our world.
- 00:22:19.608 --> 00:22:23.211
- And see your gift doubled until midnight on december 31st
- 00:22:23.211 --> 00:22:31.219
- Some of you have been thinking about giving for the first time.
- 00:22:32.521 --> 00:22:35.490
- Others of you have given, but not in a while.
- 00:22:35.490 --> 00:22:38.160
- A gift at this moment will have an outsized impact
- 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:41.630
- On this ministry -and on this nation.
- 00:22:41.630 --> 00:22:43.799
- So please don't wait any longer.
- 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:46.168
- Simply write to us at coral ridge ministries:
- 00:22:46.168 --> 00:22:53.442
- Or call toll free:
- 00:22:53.975 --> 00:22:57.379
- Or go online to:
- 00:22:57.846 --> 00:23:05.220
- In just a couple of days,
- 00:23:05.854 --> 00:23:07.088
- We'll be turning over the calendar to a new year.
- 00:23:07.088 --> 00:23:09.357
- New years is a time of new beginnings and resolutions.
- 00:23:09.357 --> 00:23:12.994
- So, what are you resolving for 2025?
- 00:23:12.994 --> 00:23:16.064
- Most of us today
- 00:23:16.064 --> 00:23:17.399
- Make resolutions about diets or exercise.
- 00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:20.068
- And that's fine and good to a point.
- 00:23:20.068 --> 00:23:21.903
- But have you ever considered making a spiritual resolution?
- 00:23:21.903 --> 00:23:26.074
- Jonathan edwards was one of the leaders
- 00:23:26.074 --> 00:23:28.610
- Of america's great awakening in the mid-1700's.
- 00:23:28.610 --> 00:23:31.646
- He's most famous today as the author of
- 00:23:31.646 --> 00:23:33.748
- “sinners in the hands of an angry god,”
- 00:23:33.748 --> 00:23:35.984
- Which is used in schools to demonstrate
- 00:23:35.984 --> 00:23:38.019
- How severe the puritans and
- 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:39.788
- Their immediate descendants supposedly were.
- 00:23:39.788 --> 00:23:42.824
- It's actually a magnificent sermon
- 00:23:42.824 --> 00:23:44.693
- About the holiness and justice of god
- 00:23:44.693 --> 00:23:46.895
- Which magnifies the immensity of his grace.
- 00:23:46.895 --> 00:23:49.898
- Edwards was one of america's greatest minds,
- 00:23:49.898 --> 00:23:52.968
- And most outstanding theologians.
- 00:23:52.968 --> 00:23:55.170
- And when he was about 19, he began compiling a list
- 00:23:55.170 --> 00:23:58.473
- Of resolutions for himself that eventually grew in number to 70.
- 00:23:58.473 --> 00:24:02.844
- All the evidence of jonathan edwards' life
- 00:24:02.844 --> 00:24:05.313
- And writings demonstrates that he
- 00:24:05.313 --> 00:24:08.049
- Stuck pretty closely to these resolutions,
- 00:24:08.049 --> 00:24:10.852
- And the intensity of thought and singularity of purpose
- 00:24:10.852 --> 00:24:14.589
- Would shame most of us now even the most devout among us.
- 00:24:14.589 --> 00:24:18.426
- Though edwards did not develop these resolutions
- 00:24:18.426 --> 00:24:20.996
- Specifically for new years,
- 00:24:20.996 --> 00:24:22.631
- It's good to look at a couple of them and
- 00:24:22.631 --> 00:24:25.033
- Be challenged for the upcoming year.
- 00:24:25.033 --> 00:24:27.302
- Among them:
- 00:24:27.302 --> 00:24:34.576
- And closely related,
- 00:24:35.143 --> 00:24:46.254
- Also at the end of every week, month and year.”
- 00:24:47.322 --> 00:24:50.692
- This sort of diligence almost seems odd to us now
- 00:24:50.692 --> 00:24:54.663
- But it's how edwards was able to accomplish
- 00:24:54.663 --> 00:24:56.798
- So much work for the lord
- 00:24:56.798 --> 00:24:58.400
- Including thousands of sermons, books, and articles
- 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:01.169
- That still benefit us today.
- 00:25:01.169 --> 00:25:02.971
- He made it a priority to live
- 00:25:02.971 --> 00:25:04.906
- With an eternal perspective, vowing,
- 00:25:04.906 --> 00:25:13.181
- Edwards wasn't being morbid, he was being realistic,
- 00:25:14.349 --> 00:25:18.019
- And it helped him to minister to others and
- 00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:20.255
- To live in light of the short time we have on earth.
- 00:25:20.255 --> 00:25:23.458
- And of course, he also wrote of the spiritual disciplines.
- 00:25:23.458 --> 00:25:45.880
- In other words, edwards intended to go to war
- 00:25:46.948 --> 00:25:49.718
- Against his own sin, every moment of every day.
- 00:25:49.718 --> 00:25:52.554
- Not in order to earn god's approval,
- 00:25:52.554 --> 00:25:54.723
- But to live out the grace god had already shown him.
- 00:25:54.723 --> 00:25:57.659
- This sort of diligence is not common to our generation,
- 00:25:57.659 --> 00:26:00.829
- So it may take a little spiritual stretching
- 00:26:00.829 --> 00:26:03.198
- And exercise to get there.
- 00:26:03.198 --> 00:26:04.633
- But in anticipation of new year's,
- 00:26:04.633 --> 00:26:07.068
- Why not write down three specific, daily,
- 00:26:07.068 --> 00:26:09.904
- Spiritual resolutions you want to make.
- 00:26:09.904 --> 00:26:12.240
- It will do you far more good
- 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:14.409
- Than any other resolution you can make.
- 00:26:14.409 --> 00:26:16.111
- Coral ridge ministries is
- 00:26:16.111 --> 00:26:20.281
- Please stand with us to help us to fulfill that mission
- 00:26:21.516 --> 00:26:24.219
- As we close 2024 and begin a promising new year.
- 00:26:24.219 --> 00:26:28.623
- If you're ever in south florida, come visit us
- 00:26:28.623 --> 00:26:30.825
- For worship at coral ridge.
- 00:26:30.825 --> 00:26:32.627
- And you can watch our livestream at
- 00:26:32.627 --> 00:26:34.729
- Also make sure to connect with us on social media at
- 00:26:35.897 --> 00:26:40.869
- And finally, make sure to check out all of our programs,
- 00:26:42.070 --> 00:26:45.273
- Documentary specials, podcasts, and more, at
- 00:26:45.273 --> 00:26:50.078
- Have a happy, safe, and blessed new year!
- 00:26:51.046 --> 00:26:53.915
- And here's a look at the next truths that transform.
- 00:26:53.915 --> 00:26:57.385
- “think about this: in the last 100 years,
- 00:26:57.485 --> 00:27:00.221
- 120 million people have been murdered and exterminated
- 00:27:00.221 --> 00:27:04.926
- By marxism and 2 billion enslaved.”
- 00:27:04.926 --> 00:27:10.432
- That's next week
- 00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:14.836
- This has been a production of coral ridge ministries
- 00:27:16.004 --> 00:27:16.004
